Combustion apparatus



C. T. LOUGHREY COMBUSTION APPARATUS Sept. 14, 1937.

Filed Nov. 4, 1933 Lauyhrqy;

Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,092,767 COMBUSTION APPARATUS Carl T. Loughrey, Torrence, Calif., assignor to Hydrocarbon Foundation, Ltd., a, corporation Application November 4, 1933, Serial No. 696,666

1 Claim. 01. 110-147) This invention relates to a combustion apparatus for effecting the combustion of carbonaceous matter, and more particularly pertains to a'method and. apparatus for efiecting the combustion of fuel and utilizing the products of such combustion in the generation of steam for heating and power purposes of the character set forth in my co-pending application for United States Letters Patent Serial Number 637,752 filed Octoher 14, 1932 and of which this application is a continuation in part.

An object of the invention is to provide a highly eflicient and economical means for effecting the combustion of carbonaceous matter to generate heat, and also to utilize such heat in the production of steam.

Another object of the invention is to provide a'combustion apparatus which is so constructed and operated as to produce higher temperatures within a given time from the burning of a carbonaceous fuel in a fire-box than is attainable in such apparatus now generally in use.

Another object is to provide a combustion apparatus embodying a draft appliance operable to effect the generation of high temperature gases within a fire-box without rebound, and'which operates to supply only such air as is required to eifect substantially complete combustion of a fuel.

Another object is to provide an efficient means for effecting the constant flow of a large volume of high temperature gases in a confined stream into a space within a body of liquid.

A further object is to provide an instrumentality whereby gases may be caused to flow continuously under controlled velocities free of pulsations, and in which such flow is created byeffecting displacement of a liquid instead of by direct action on gases whereby movement of the gases acted on is rendered more positive.

Another object is to provide a method for efficiently generating hot gases; effecting their removal as generated, and utilizing the heat of the generated gases.

5 With the foregoing objects in View, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the steps and features hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

- Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation with parts in vertical section of the combustion apparatus, showing it as employed in the generation of steam. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, illustrating the space creating appliance.

Fig. 3 ma view in vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing more i specifically, A 5 indicates generally a boiler comprising'the usual fire-box B, smoke-box C, fire-tubes D, shell E, and tube sheets F and G; the fire-tubes D opening through the tube sheets'and beingsurrounded by water in the boiler to which latter water is 10 delivered in the'customary manner.

In carrying out the present invention, the firebox B is closed to atmosphere except through a small air'inlet opening 5 through which is inserted a burner nozzle 6 adapted to deliver a 15 hydrocarbon fuel to the fire-box B from a suit able source of supply through a control valve 1. The fire-box B includes the usual front and. side Walls, top wall or crown sheet, "and back wall, which latter embodies the tube sheet F. 20 Erected within the fire-box in spaced relation to the walls thereof is a combustion chamber 8 formed of fire brickor other refractory material, and which chamber has an imperforate'back wall 9 spaced forwardly of the tube sheet F, and in- 25 eludes side walls in and I'lfa front wall l2, and an arch or top wall l3. The side walls In and I I l, and front wall l2 are spaced'a short distance from the adjacent walls of the fire-box B and the'top wall I3 is spaced from thertop wall of 80 the fire-box.

The side walls I!) and II, and top wall l3 are formed with passages M, which afford a communication between the combustion chamber 8 andthe spaces between the walls ofthe latter 35 and the walls of the fire-box B, and which spaces communicate with thesspace between the target wall 9 and thefi'ue sheet F. This arrangement permits of a substantially even distribution of generated gases over the area of the flue sheet 40 and a substantially uniform speed thereof through the fire-tubes D. v The burner nozzle 6 extends into the combustion chamber 8 through the wall l2 which latter is provided with an opening communicating with 45 the air inlet 5.

The bottom wall I 5 of the combustion chamber 8 is imperforate, being here shown as seating on a foundation Hi. i

An important feature of the invention resides in providing in the apparatus a draft producer I! which includes a water reservoir or tank l8 here shown as located at the-forward end of the boiler in front of the smoke-box C,,which tank contains a liquid body [9 consisting of water 3: upper portion of the tank l8.

which is delivered to the tank from a suitable source of supply in an ordinary manner.

Arranged within the tank 18 and submerged within the liquid body I9 therein is a device for creating a space in the liquid body adapted to also cause rotation of the liquid aroundthe margin of the space and whereby gases passing from the smoke box, as will be hereinafter more fully described, will fiow into the space undertheir velocities and be impinged into the revolving liquid and then be expelled to the surface of the liquid. This device is here shown as embodying a horizontally extending rotary shaft 20 the outer end of which is supported in a-bearin'g' 2| and the inner end of which projects through a packing gland 22 in an end wall of thetank. The shaft 20 is fitted with a wheel 23 adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power.

Mounted on the shaft to revolve therewithis a helical blade 24 the inner end portion of which extends into and is encircled by a fixed cylinder 25 the inner periphery of which is slidably contacted by the outer margin of the encompassed portion of the blade. The blade 24 serves on rotation thereof to effect positive displacement of a portion of the liquid in the tank and thereby form an open space inthebody of the liquid l9 and also causes rotation of the liquid around the mar ginof such space.

The cylinder 25 is formed at its inner end with an intake 21 to which is connected a pipe 28 lead ing into and opening to the smoke-box C, the pipe 28 affording a communication between the interior of the smoke-boxand the interior of the cylinder 25 through which gases will flow under their own velocities on rotation of the shaft 20 and the blade 24 into the space created in the liquid by the latter fromwhich space the gases are caused to pass through the liquid The tank is closed by a cover 29, and is fitted with a gas outlet here shown as comprising a conduit 30 one end of which opens to the interior of the tank through the cover and the other end of which 'opens to atmosphere or other suitable point of discharge. The normal level of the liquidin the tank is spaced below the cover 29.

As a means'for causing frequent impact'ofthe hot gases on the walls of the tubes D as the.

gases flow therethrough, each of the tubes is provided with a series of internal baffles 3| which may be formed in various ways .but which are here shown as embodying blocks of refractory material insertable in the tube and which blocks are formed to provide aseries of deflecting surfaces bordering a passage through the tubes;

In the operation of the invention, fire is initially developed in the fire-box by combustion of fuel therein in a usual manner after which the rotary shaft 20 is set in operation to effect rotation of the helical blade 24. Rotation of. the blade 24 within the liquid body I9 will act to displace the liquid in which it is submerged in such. manner as to create a large space within the body of liquid and at the same time impart a rotary or swirling movement to the liquid forming the wall of the space thereby creating a vortex within the liquid and thus effecting a spiral or rolling move; ment of the liquid away from the space;

The-portion of the blade 24 surrounded by the cylinder 25" will act to displace the liquid in the cylinder and to force it with .a positive action through the outer open end of thecylinder where the portions of the blades 24 protruding beyond the outer end of the cylinder will act to direct such into the displaced liquid outwardly into the main body of the liquid in the tank. The space thus created is displaced in part during continued rotation of the shaft 20 and blades 24 by liquid which will flow into the cylinder through an opening 32 extending around the shaft 20. Circulation of liquid outwardly through the cylinder is thus effected. The liquid flowing into the cylinder 25 serves to afford a seal between the inner periphery of the cylinder and the encompassed portions of the blade 24 so as to augment the action of the blade 24 in creating a space within the cylinder. The helical blade is revolved at such speed as to form a space around the cylindrical shaft 20 extending from the shaft to a point spaced inwardly from the outer margins of the blade so that the margin of the blade will be working in liquid forming the wall of the space thereby effecting and maintaining rotation of the liquid around the space during rotation of the helical blade.

On a space being created within the cylinder and .within themain body of liquid within the tank, gases will be permitted to flow under their own volition into such space throughthe intake pipe'28 and opening 21 from the smoke-box C; where the gases by reason of their velocity will penetrate into the swirling liquid where temporary occlusion of the gases in the liquid will take place thereby preventing rebound or retrograde fiow of the gases emanating from the cylinder 25. The occluded gases by reason of :being of lesser specific gravity than that of the liquid will rise to the surface of the liquid and be expelled therefrom, and will then pass to atmosphere or to any suitable point of discharge through the conduit 30.

,By creation and maintenance of the space in the liquid a constant flow of gases from the smoke-box into the liquid will take place and accordingly a constant and positive displacement will occur throughout the communication afforded by the air intake 5, combustion chamber 8,.

fire-box B, tubes D, and smoke-box C, resulting in a flow of gases forwardly through such combut at a greater velocity through the air intake 5 than through the tubes because of the lesser capacity of the air intake 5, and because of such high velocity of flow through the intake" 5 incoming air will be rapidly" supplied to the fueldelivered from the nozzle 6 in such volume as to insure" rapid and complete combustion of the fuel andthe consequent development of intense heat in'the combustion chamber in a short time.

Fuel, which may comprise any suitable carbonaceous combustible, is delivered to the combustion chamber, as needed, in the usual manner or inany suitable way.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the kindling point of fuel in the combustion chamber is automatically maintained, and a constant fiow of generated gases through the combustion chamber in one direction is effected so as to avoid pulsations of the gases, and that the proper volume of air tosupport combustion' will be automatically supplied, which with the high velocities attainable by the flow of the products of combustion under their own'volition' into the space in the liquid content of the veloped in ordinary fire-box operations; it being possible by the use of this invention to produce approximately the maximum of heat units that the fuel used is capable of supplying.

The gases entering the smoke-box will be of greatly reduced temperature compared with the temperature of generation in the fire-box, but manifestly will retain a portion of their heat. Since all of the gases entering the smoke-box will then flow directly through the water in the tank and there be broken up into small volumes, a substantial part of the retained heat of the gases entering the water in the tank will be absorbed by the water, thereby heating the water in the tank and reducing the temperature of the exhaust gases.

While under proper operation of the invention no unburned solids will be carriedover with the gases into the smoke-box, since ordinarily complete combustion of the fuel will be obtained in the combustion chamber, there may be occasions when such solids might develop and be carried forward with the gases, but in which event such solids, by reason of the gases being passed to discharge through the body of water in the tank will be entrapped in the water and thereby be prevented from passing to atmosphere. The water in the tank will thus serve as 'a smoke preventative and as a spark arrester.

I claim:

In a combustion apparatus, a combustion chamber having a gas discharge outlet, a tank containing a body of liquid, an open ended cylinder completely submerged in said liquid, a rotary shaft protruding from said cylinder, and a helical blade on said shaft having an end portion thereof extending into said cylinder; there being an open communication leading from said outlet to said cylinder.

CARL T. LOUGHREY. 20 

